Draft connection



Aug. 2l, 1928.

J. A. PlLcHER DRAFT CONNECTION Filed' sept. 1.` 1922 lll/1.01110 Patented fi-Lug. 21, 1928.

JoHN A., rILeHER, or RoANoKE, VIRGINIA.

DRAFT CONNECTION.

Application filed September This inventionrelatesto railway cars and has among its objects to provide improved means for the rotative engagement of a coupler yokewith a coupler and with a cushioning mechanism. l ln the usuali draft mecha nism of railway carsthe coupler yoke is suhjected to lateral 1bending stresses when the pull on-.the coupler` is vout of ,line `withthe longitudinal .axis ofthe yoke, which,l condi tion occurswhen the caris on a curve. But by providing rotative engagement between `the coupler and yoke and between the yoke and cushioningmechanism, these vbending stresses are eliminated under the above conditions; namely, when the car is on a Curve.

A further objectofthe invention is to provide a. draft connection for railway ears in `which the first co'stis greatly reduced, `as well as reducing the continued'operating costs. p f

lVith the foregoing `general objects in view, the invention consists of the formation, combination and arrangement of parts as set forth particularly in the appended claims,

. the various elements being coordinated to produce improvements generally in the art. The `present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 162.082,1iledApril18, 1921.

In the drawings, Fig. 1` is a plan showing a draft connection embodyingr my invention; Fi 2 is an elevation, partly-in section, thereof; Fig. 3 isa plan showing the method of placing the cushioning mechanism in position within the yoke beforethe -mechanismi is applied to the car.

Referring to these drawings the vdraft connection comprises a yoke with the upper `and lower arms 1 and 2,: respectivelwand-a vertically extending portion 3. y Boththe upper vand lower `arms are providedwifth vertically disposed slotsy 1, which have arc-k shaped bearings 5 at their forward ends. The coupler butt G on its top and hottomsurfaces is provided with `circular ,extensions 7,

each of which has laterallyextending lugs 8 arranged at right angles to the longitudinaly axis of the coupler. The cushioning mechanism 9 has an arc-shaped recess 41() inits e rear face which receives an arc-shaped face onthe vertically extending portion 3 of the yoke. Thus substantial pullingbearings'are v provided between the couplerand the yoke and hetweenthe yoke and cushioning mechaand at the same time thecoupler may 1, 1922. serial No. 585,772.

13 leading away from the arc-shapedl face 12 which serveto .guide the Coupler butt back,

during draft. o l ,v y l i.

The coupler and the yoke are connected hy swinging the couple'rpat right-angles rto the yoke and turning it on its side. The coupler butt, kwhen turned on its/SideQ-inay be `in-` serted betweenthfe upper and lower arms jof the yoke and them hy using the roundedporinto position afterit has been pulled awayv '11 is` also provided with tangential surfaces tion 14 `of the coupler `butt adjoining.. the

trunnions 5,. be brought back to its normal vertical position, when thelugs 8 will passl throughthe slotsa in the upper `and lower arms 1 and 2,respectively,of the yoke. .The

coupler may then he turned into longitudinal alignmenty with the yoke, thus locking .the coupler `to the yoke by .means of the lugs 8. The front follower 11 is placed in position withY its forward face12 against they rearface of the ,coupler butt.A y y .i l

To insert `the cushioning mechanismfinto position between the yoke4 arms the .'followei, block 11 isrotatedahout the couplerlnitt and the .cushioning mechanism placed with. its rear face against lthe vertically extending porh tionsjofthe yoke andpits frontface'gagainst the rear kface of the follower hlockfas shown in Fig. ,3.3 From this positionthe.,cushioning` mechanism and thefollowerblock may he forced into their ynormal position, placing the cushioningmechanism underr slight` compres-- sion and eausingthe follower blockto litV snugly against thecoupler butt. y After insertinggthe cushioningmeehanism the entire mechanism 'maybe elevated into ,position on the car. Beneath the yoke are the carrier irons 15, whichmay be o'fjany approved form, Vdetachably fastened4 to the car frame. These carrier irons not' only support the couplerv butt, yoke and cushioningmeehanism but also hold/the lug 8 on the topof the coupler buttr'near the topk cover plate 1G there by limiting* its vertical Vno ovemanta The'rear faces ot' the forward draft sill stops 17A are slightly tapered, asis the front face ofthe follower block whiclrcomes inn enL gagement with the stops. This will allow the front edges of the follower blocktoeenterfthe space clear of the rear edges ot' the stops and thereby permit the easy application Loit'it-li1ec mechanism to the car after it has been assembled. 1 f

I have thus provided new and improved draft connections, o1 lower--ti1"`st cost, lessl weight, andgreater economy ot operation.v

It is myiintentionto cover allf lniodications of the invention falling within ythe spiritand Iclain'ii 71. lk-coupler yoke comprisin'gslotted. upper and 'lower arms, a `coupler 'having lugs on ythe topiand bottom surfacesof the-butt ot' greater l scope of the 'following'claims,`

` lateral `extent ithan thewidth 'of thel'slots, in

the fyokeiarms, said lugs being insertable and removable -tl-n-ough said slots :when-the coupleris! ,arrangedy at right angles to its vnormal position and turned oniits side through` anan,

gle ofapproximately ninety degrees,a oush'-4 ioning meehanism Corresponding arc-'shaped pulling surfacesvon the coupler and "yoke arms and on the yoke and cushioning mechanism, permitting,-when-lo'cked together, lateral angling ofv the" coupler relative 'tof 'Y the yoke and also; lateral; angling `of thel yoke.' relative to the cushioning mechanism.v`

2.-' A :coupler yoke having slot-ted upperand lower-arms, arc-shaped bearings atthe for,-

- y ward endsof the slots in said arms, a coupler,

arc-shaped bearings on ythe top land bottoin'ot the couplerl butt engaging the arc-shaped bea-rings in the yoke arms and permitting lateral '-jangling ot' l vthe coupler relative y to'r theA yoke,'a': cushioning.mechanism having an arcsliapedbearing in `its rearf'face, acorresponding ,arc-shaped bearing on--thel yoke, permit-v ting lateral angling of-*the yoke relative to cushioning mechanism, lugs on the,` coupler butt extendin'gthrough said'slots in'gthe yoke arms, one ofsaid lugsfoverly-inga portion ot the npper yoke army and another ofk said lugs underlying1 a portion ,of 'the' lower yyoke arm* when 'the coupler ,and yoke are in operative, position, the coupler` beingremovable :from saidyoke', arms onlyy when substantially 'at rightangles `thereto and turned lon 'its side through an I angle y of approximately l,ninetydegrees. 'y

3. A coupleryokelhaving an 'arc-shaped vertically extending portion' engaging'an arc,- shaped Arecess ,ina cushioning mechanism,f thereby permitting lateral angling of the yoke: relative to the Acushicniing mechanism,- said yoke-having vertical extending slots through thefrvupper and lowererms thereof, a coupler havingprojections on the top and bottom of its buttbearing againstthe forward ,end'sotv said slots and havinga rotative 'engagement therewith for lateral'angling,lugs onthe pro-V j ections having their long axis at right angles to the Aaxis `of the` coupler engaging, respectively; the'upperiace of Xthe'upper'ari'n and the lower tace of the lower arm, the coupler and ,yoke-being;disengageable by rotation of one relative to the other to bring thelugs into .positionto permit their passage through said slots and then turning the coupleron itsside through aneangleotffapprozrimately ninety degrees. elfi A coupler yoke having-'a rotative engagementwith a cushioning mechanism, thev uppery and lower arn'is lot said'yoke havingver-l tically extending slots therethrouglnazcouii pler'having-"lugs onthe t'on and bottoni'sun'L 80 faces of -the butt 'of greater lateral extent than the 'widthot lthelslots'in the'yoke arms, said coupler lhavingl ax portion of its butt rounded -to 'pe-rmitf the 4 turningl loftsame throught an-` angle' of -approximately*ninety 85 degrees atteritlhas-becn placed on'its side betweensaid slotted arms-ot the yokeiwhereby f said v'lugs ymay be inserted `or removed 'tromf said slots.

and ldwerarnisfot saidyoklhaving anarcshaped surface bea-rfingagainst a corresponding surface ionlthe cushioning' mechanism,y pein'iittingg respectively,l rotary 'movement be` tweenthe cushioning mechanismandthe yoke 10U and between'ctheyoke andthe coupler. y f

6. 'A2-coupler yokercomprising -upper and lower arms' with verticallyfextending slots: therethrough, a couplerhaving proj ecti'ons on thetop andbottomot thebuttbearing against im,

the orwardzendsot'said slotsand liavingfa rotative engagement therewith tor lateral angling,A a cushioning mechanism, the connection between sald yoke arms' having anA arcing surface on saidncushioning?mechanism; and 'having therewith a yrotative engagement for lateral angling, a -iollower 'bl'oclr havingy rotative engagement with lsaid fc'ouplerto pere mit the yeasy Vinserti on of the cushioning mech'- 115 ani'smbetween said yokearmsu o o 7 f A icoupler yoke con'ipris'mg, upper and lower arms with vertically'extending slots therethrough, a'coupler having-'a slot and pro# y jection engagement with thefforward endsot 12m said upper-and lo-wer arms: and 'capable ot' movement relati'vethereto, a tcushioning mechanism; the rconnect-ion between ysaid yoke arms'ihaving'air arc-'shaped' Surface withinA bearingupon'the 'rear'tacc 'of the cushioning 19:

mechanismthe' butt of said coupler terminat#l ing in'- an arc-'shapedsurtace, and a follower.` havingl its 4:forward iaceftormed to cooperate? with'tlre-rea face of said coupler-butt.'

8,'5A-coup'ler-fyoke1comprising upper rand 13" 5. lna dev-ice ot the character-described,`I

in, the connection between thenppery shaped-surtace'bearing against-a correspond- 1in lower arms with vertically extending [slots therethrough, a/eoupler having a slot and projection engagement with the forward ends of said upper `and lower arms, a cushioning mechanism, the yconnection between said yoke arms having an arc-shaped surface engaging a corresponding surface on said cushioning mechanisn'i, the butt of said coupler beingso formed that all points on its rear surface, which lie inthe ysame horizontalplane, move on the same circular are when lateral movement of said coupler takes place, a follower having its forward face formed to cooperate with the rear face of said coupler butt,where by said follower may rotate about said coupler butt to permit the easy insertion of said 'cush ioning mechanism between said yoke arms.y

V9. YA vcoupler yoke comprising upper and lower arms with vertically extending slots therethrough, a coupler having a slot and projection engagement lwith, the forward ends of said upper and lower arms, a cushioning mechanism, the connection between said yoke arms having an arc-shaped surfaceengaging a corresponding surface on said cushioning mechanism', the butt `of said coupler being so formed that all points 'on its rear face lie in a surface of revolution, a follower having its forward face formed to cooperate with the. rear face of said coupler butt, whereby said follower may rotate about said coupler butt to permitthe easy insertion of said cushioning mechanism between said `yoke arms.

10. A coupler yoke comprising upper and lowerwarms with vertically extending slots therethrough, a coupler having a slot and projection engagement with the forward ends of said upper and lower arms, ak cushioning mechanism, the connection between said yoke arms having' an arc-shaped surface engaging a corresponding surface on said cushioning mechanism, the butt of said coupler being so' formed that any horizontal plane passed f through its rear face will cut therefrom a por# tion of a circle, a follower he ving its forwardy face formed to cooperate with-the `rear 4face of said coupler butt, whereby said' follower may rotate about said coupler butt to permit the easy insertion of said cushioning mechanism between said yoke arms. i

l1. A coupler yoke comprising `slotted upper andlower arms, a coupler having lugs on the top and bottom surfaces ofthe butt of greater lateral extent than the width of the slots in the yoke arms, said lugsbeing insertable and removable through said slots when the coupler is arranged at right angles to its normal 'position and turned on its side through an angle of approximately ninety degrees, corresponding arc-shaped pulling surfaces on coupler and yoke arms permitting, when the yoke and coupler have been locked together, lateral angling of the coupler rela tive to the yoke.

12. A'. coupler yoke having slotted upper forwardends of the slots in said arms, .a

coupler, lugs yonthe'top and bottom of the n* coupler butt having arc`-shaped bearings engaging the arc-shaped bearings in the yoke arms and' permitting lateral angling of the coupler relative to the yoke, one of said lugs overlying a portion of the upper yoke arm and another of said lugs underlying aportion ofthe lower yoke arm when the coupler and yoke are in operative position, the coupler being removable from said yoke arms only when substantially at right angles thereto and turned on itsside through an angle `of approximately ninetyndegrees. 13. VAcoupler yoke having upper and lower yoke 7arms with "vertically extending slots therethrough, u. coupler, projections `on the top and bottom of the coupler bearing against the forward ends of said slotsandk havinga rotative engagement therewith for lateral angling,lugs on the projections having their long axis at right angles tothe axis of the coupler engaging, respectively, the upper face of the upper arm. and the lowcrgface of the lower arm, the coupler andv yoke being disengageable by rotation of one relative tov the their passagelthrough .said slots and then turning the coupler on its side through an' angle of approximately ninetydegrees.

la. Aeoupler yoke having slotted upper and lower arms,-ay coupler having lugs on the top andfbottom surfaces ofthe butt of greater lateral `extentthan the width of the slots in the yoke arms, said coupler having a portion of its-buttrounded to permit the turning-of same through an' angle of approximately ninety degreesafter it has been placed on its side between said slotted arms of vvthe yoke whereby said lugs may be inserted orremoved from saidslotsf f :15. A- coupler yoke having and lower arms, a coupler, the butt thereofl` havinga slot and projection engagement `with the forward ends of the `yoke arms,y a. cush` ioning mechanism, and a front follower, said slotted upper-i,

front lfollower being' rotative about said cou? cushioning mechanism.

16. A coupler,y yoke having a. slottedupper andl lower arms, a coupler,the butt thereof having a slot and proj ection engagement with the .forward ends of the yoke arms, a cushioningfmechanism, a ffront follower, ythe butt of said couplerr being so rformed thatall points on its rear surface lie in a surface of revolution`the forward' face of said front followei` being formed to cooperate with the rear face of said coupler butt, whereby said front follower may rotate about said coupler butt to permit the easy insertion of said cushioning mechanism. v

17. In a draft rigging, the combination with a slotted'yoke, of a coupler, lugs formed pler butt to permit the easy insertionof the liao thereon andadapted to extend 'through the said yoke Islots,'heads onsaidlugs, sai-fdheads beingvequal in width tothe 4said y'okef-slots, and vrmeans to; permitrthe separa-tion of said yokev and coupler byr'a pluralityyofrotations without spreading'of said :yoke arms.`

f 18.1InV al-draft rigging, the combination, with a coupler, of a'lslottedI yoke, mealns-sfor pivotally connecting; said Lcoupler and yoke, said means comprising;oppositelyp disposed headedx lugs formed on ksaid coupler and adapted-to engage -withinsaidyoke |slots, said couplerbeing further :provided with rounded edge facet adjacent said'y lugsfsaid lugsbeingv adapted to be freely entered and removed fromsaid yoke onlyby a plurality of rotations of vsaid coupler, at leastoneofisaidrotations`V being` aboutthe-longitudinal axis thereof;` y

19. In vdraft mechanism', .the combinati-oni of-a` yoke; a coupler, meansfor operatively connectingY said #yoke and*` 'couplerwhereby there maybez radialy actionr at the pointy of connection"` therebetween, and draft f gearoperativelyrvconnected to said yoke whereby when thereisa pulling force-exertedonl the coupler, tlierexmay bef a `limited unrestrained radial actionat the rear point of Contact between saidA draft gear: and yoke;

20. In ydraftmechanism, the-combination of operatively associated coupler, yoke and draft gear, means for operativelyassociating. said coupler, yokeA and; draft gear-.whereby Linder certain operative `conditions there may, be an` appreciable. radial action'betvve'enthe yoke andi? gear and lbetween' the yoke andy coupler for facilitating the Atakingofcurves- 21.- Indraft mechanism, they l lcombination ofa yoke,r a coupler pivotallyconnected thereto, andfdra'ft gear operatively connected-:to the `rear vof the yoke `whereby when there is; a pulling force exerted on the coupler vthere may be a radial action at the rear-pointy of contact between said draft gear and yoke, andk and` convex surfaces "for facilitating vradial action of the coupler, therebeingafpivotal connection between :the coupler Vand 'yoke for facilitating-radial I action of the coupler-l with respect to the yoke. f

23.' In draft mechanism, the'f-combin'ation of faiyoke; a-vcouple`r5 and draft gear, therear ofthefd'raft gear having a memberiwith acon- 'cave surface, the rear of the yoke having a cooperating convex surface wherebyl there maybe radiali actionabout said cooperating. concave andconvex surfaces, said', coupler and-yoke beingpivotally connected 'for'.per-k `mitting radial action of the 'coupler `with respectfto the-yoke. Y f

In :draftfmechanisim the combination of afyoke, a coupler, and draftl gear,thegfront surfacefof vthe rear of the yoke having-a, curved surface,-the rear member of said ydraft l gear havinga curved surface lcooperating (with the/curved surface of said yoke for *facil-A itatingaradial movement of the yoke, there being -fafpivotal connection betweenthe cou# pler and yoke forffacilitating radial action of -theicoupler with respect vtothe yokefor facilitating the Ytaking of curves.

25. In draft-mechanism,- the combinationl l of a vertical plane yoke-g. a coupler, and'draft gear, the front face of the rear of said yoke having a curved surface, the rear member of saidfdraft gear'havingacurved surface, cooperating with said-other curved surface for facilitating-'radial action ofv the'` yoke, isa-id coupler `having a pivotal-'connection rwith respectto-said yokefto permit radial actionof. curves. l A

26. In draft mechanism, thecombination of a vertical plane yoke, a coupler, dra'ft gear,

` of said coupler for facilitatingthe taking the front facey of the'rear-of saidyoke having a' curved surface, 'the rear member-ofsaid' draft gear lhaving acurv'ed surface cooperate,` ingwith saidother curved surface for facilitatingradialaction of the yoke,-said coupler having Ipivotal connection with respect to saidyoke to permit radial actlonof said coupler for facilitating the taking of curves,

the coupler butt-havinga rear curved surface,

and a Y front l follower vhavingr a Acooperating curved surfacev for vfacilitatingcentering.of thecouplerf..` f ,v v

27. In'draftfmechanism, the combination of ayoke, a coupler' Connectedthereto whereby there vmay .be radial action 4at"` theV point of connection therebetweem means for:l operatively connecting said draftgearv to ysaid yoke i whereby when there isfa pulling force exerted on the coupler there maybe radial? actionfat the rear pointof contactbetweensaid draft gear: and yoke,said couplerhaving la butt the rear surface-of which isc'urv'ed, and a frontfollower having a cooperatingcurved surface forwfacrlita'tmg centering of saidcouplerd- JOHN "A: PILGH'E-R 

